Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Lada is an island in the Riau archipelago of
Indonesia. It is part of the Riau Islands province, the capital of which,
Tanjung Pinang, lies in the island's south and is the island's main community. Bintan's land area is 2,402.28 square kilometres (927.53 sq mi) (total area is 60,057 square kilometres (23,188 sq mi) including 96% sea area). Its administrative region is designated the Bintan Island Regency, one of the six administrative regions of the Riau Islands province. The city of Tanjung Pinang is an autonomous area within the Bintan Island.
Water Resources:
Water resources of the Bintan have been exclusively planned by identifying an area of 43,000 hectares (110,000 acres) for the purpose which also includes the catchment of the water source and its forest areas.
Flora And Fauna
Flora:
In Bintan, the primary forest cover was in a limited area on the hills. There was extensive deforestation done mostly for the cultivation of gambier (Uncaria gembieri). The plantation size of each gambier plantation was 30 hectares (190 mi). For processing of gambier leaves firewood was essential. This requirement was met by cutting forests of as much as the 30 hectares (190 mi) sized gambier plantations. With this amount of forest degradation, the gambier processing could be sustained for 12 years only. Forest was not available for use for the processing, and production of gambier was discontinued, while efforts continued to find new stocks of firewood. Inevitably, Gambier was totally abandoned.
Fauna:
Various species of sea animals and plants are found underwater. From squids to snails, from various fish to oyster – several marine species including Sea Turtles are found here. Dolphins are also sighted. The variety and diversity of sea life is very attractive. Wild life animals seen on this forest trek are: silver leaf monkeys, Sunbirds, eagles and kites.
Banyan Tree Temple:
Banyan Tree Temple, about a 100 year old temple, is visited by the local Chinese community and Singaporeans. It is located in Senggarang town. Apart from this temple, there are several Chinese Pagodas in Singgarang near the jetty. One temple is in ruins and the other three temples, each about 100 years old, are located within a courtyard facing the sea.
Beaches And Resorts:
At 18 June 1996, Indonesian President and
Singapore PM have launched 23,000 hectares Lagoi Beach Area, Teluk Sebong, Bintan as a resort with contract for 70 years between Bintan government and PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala as developer. The popular Trikora Beach is located at the east of Bintan island, while Bintan International Resorts (known as Lagoi locally) at its northern end. Lagoi is full of high-end resorts like
Nirwana Resort Hotel, Maya Villa, Mayang
Sari Beach Resort, Banyu Biru, Nirwana Beach Club,
Banyan Tree Bintan, Angsana Resort & Spa, Club Med Ria Bintan and
Bintan Lagoon Resort.
These are exclusive resorts complete with golf courses designed by
World-renowned golf course designers. Resorts and hotels at the Trikora Beach are affordable to average visitors. To name a few: Bintan Agro Beach Resorts, plethora of resorts complete with fishing facilities like Ocean Bay Resort and Kolam Kelong Trikora. There is even a resort providing diving guide namely, the Traveler Pondok Wisita. Visitors may stay in its air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned rooms overnight before diving. The popular resorts and hotels outside Lagoi at the island are: Nikoi Island, Bintan (an island located off the east coast of Bintan island), Mana Mana Beach Club, Bintan Lagoon Resort, Loola Adventure Resort, Bintan Agro Beach Resort, Hotel Sadaap, Pelangi Hotel, Comfort Hotel & Resort and Hotel Laguna.
Mangrove Discovery Tour:
From Bandar Bentan Telani, a special small port in Lagoi area, we may join in Mangrove Discovery Tour for one and a half hour in the noon or only one hour in the night. The location of Mangrove forest is in Sungai Sebong Lagoon which has 12 different species of mangrove and the most complete in Indonesia.
